The Fiscal Discipline and Development Advocacy Centre (FIDAC) has called on civil society organisations (CSOs) to intensify public education and accountability efforts regarding the Nigeria Tax Reform Acts, 2025, saying that “the success of the laws depends largely on citizens’ understanding and trust.”
FIDAC said the tax reforms represent “one of the most far-reaching efforts to modernise Nigeria’s tax system,” with provisions aimed at expanding the tax base, easing the burden on low-income earners and small businesses, and strengthening digital tax administration.
In a statement, FIDAC Executive Director Abdussalam Muhammad Kani stressed that “legislation alone will not deliver the desired outcomes,” noting that effective implementation rests on “voluntary compliance driven by public confidence.”
The organisation described CSOs as “a critical bridge between government and citizens,” particularly in an environment where misinformation and informal interpretations of tax laws have historically discouraged compliance.
FIDAC noted that awareness campaigns must now translate into accountability, urging civil society groups to “simplify the provisions of the new tax laws” through community engagements, broadcast programmes, and digital platforms targeted at traders, artisans, informal sector operators, and small businesses.
It highlighted key reliefs under the reforms, including that “individuals earning up to N800,000 annually are exempt from personal income tax,” that “small businesses now enjoy enhanced reliefs,” and that “rent relief of up to N500,000 is available,” saying the measures are designed to make taxation fairer and more inclusive.
The group also called for increased support for taxpayers as Nigeria transitions to digital tax administration, stressing the need for “practical guidance to help willing citizens comply without fear or confusion.”
FIDAC further urged civil society organisations to demand transparency in the use of tax revenues, arguing that “compliance improves when citizens can clearly see how taxes translate into investments in infrastructure, education, healthcare, and social protection.”
According to the organisation, the Nigeria Tax Reform Acts, 2025, present “a defining civic moment for civil society” to strengthen the social contract by promoting understanding, trust, and accountability in Nigeria’s tax system.
